Choosing the Best Tiles for Your Space

Tiles play a pivotal role in shaping the look, feel, and longevity of a space, making it essential to choose the best tiles for your needs. Whether designing a sophisticated modern kitchen, updating a compact bathroom, or upgrading an outdoor area, the right tile choice brings style and peace of mind.

In this guide, you'll learn about selecting the best tiles for each space, using our Tile Calculator to estimate exactly how much tile you need, and some professional tips to help you plan your tile project more efficiently while avoiding costly mistakes.

Before choosing the best tiles for your project, it’s important to understand the types available and their function and suitability for specific spaces.
 

For instance, porcelain tiles replicate the organic textures of stone, travertine, and concrete, offering a highly durable, moisture-resistant surface. Their subtle texture enhances anti-slip performance, making them ideal for expansive wall and floor spaces, particularly in high-traffic areas like bathrooms and kitchens.

While offering the same visual appeal, ceramic tiles are easier to install and are great for walls and low-traffic floors. Our ceramic tiles are available in seven finishes. They have a handmade look with a natural edge and are available in subway, square, and rectangular styles.  
 

Stone tiles instil timeless sophistication due to their distinctive textures and patterns. With unique colour and veining variations, our marble tile, for instance, will add a rich and rustic appeal to spaces and is perfect for high-traffic areas. It’s worth noting that our neutral-toned limestone tiles are available in large-format sizes. When properly sealed, they are superb for walls and floors in high-traffic areas, including exterior spaces. 

Glazed mosaic tiles, which reflect light and elevate kitchen and bathroom backsplashes, can also be considered decorative accents. Due to their small surface area and numerous grout lines, they are often less durable under heavy foot traffic and more suitable for decorating walls rather than floors. ABI Interiors’ diverse mosaic tiles include handmade clay, ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone options like marble and travertine. Conveniently mounted on mesh backing, these tiles are easier to install and ideal for precise patterns and curved surfaces.

Choosing tiles for the bathroom can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options available for both wall and floor surfaces. You’ll need to consider style, colour, and practicality, such as slip and moisture resistance and ease of cleaning. From feature walls in the shower or around the bath to flooring, tiles play a significant role in shaping the overall ambience of your bathroom.

The best tile for bathroom floors should combine texture, durability, decorative appeal, and practicality. Large-format tiles, in particular, make cleaning easier by minimising grout lines where grime typically accumulates. 

With various sizes, shapes, colours, and finishes available, ABI Interiors’ floor tiles provide endless design possibilities, allowing you to personalise your space without compromising practicality. Many of our small- and large-format floor tiles are suitable for indoor and outdoor use. They feature uniquely textured, anti-slip surfaces that enhance safety without compromising style, making them some of the best tiles for shower floor applications.

When it comes to the best tile for shower walls or around the bath, ABI Interiors’ porcelain or ceramic tiles are ideal due to their excellent water resistance, durability, and ease of maintenance. However, you shouldn’t overlook mosaics, often a standout choice for adding personality and detail. Mosaics can be used to highlight focal points or as a striking splashback behind the vanity. Their intricate patterns and small scale allow for greater creative expression, turning everyday surfaces into visually captivating features. Whether you're creating a bold statement or a subtle accent, mosaics bring artisanal charm and textural interest to bathroom spaces, making them a practical and beautiful choice.

Finding the best tiles for your kitchen is just as important (and arguably as overwhelming) as choosing your bathroom tiles. You must consider the flooring and tiles around your cabinetry and the importance of your kitchen splashback — protecting your walls from splashes, spills, and heat while adding texture, depth, and personality.

Subway tiles are renowned for their clean lines and uniform shape, while their aesthetic appeal makes them great for complementing traditional and modern kitchens. Concrete tiles should also be considered for their bold and distinctive look. When properly sealed, they’re easy to maintain, resisting stains, moisture, and everyday wear while complementing wood, metal, and matte finishes. Natural stone tiles, such as marble tiles, stone tiles, and travertine tiles, offer unique veining and rich textures, making them an excellent choice for creating a grand, timeless impression.

In addition, ABI Interiors offers many different kitchen tile colours, including shades of grey, beige, orange, yellow, pink, red, and green. Our tiles are crafted using a traditional hand-operated moulding technique, giving each one a unique finish. We also offer diverse kitchen tiles, including large and small formats and boutique handmade styles. For instance, our high-gloss, meticulously crafted Zellige tiles are ideal for adding character and warmth to kitchens and are available in a variety of finishes. 

For kitchen floor tiles, it’s important to choose options that are both durable and stylish, as this area experiences high foot traffic, frequent cleaning, and inevitable spills. Textured, anti-slip surfaces are ideal for added safety. ABI Interiors offers a selection of floor tiles well-suited for kitchen use. Our extensive range combines practicality with visual depth, offering elegant finishes that pair beautifully with various cabinetry and benchtop styles. Their hard-wearing nature makes them perfect for interior and exterior kitchens, while their refined textures add warmth and sophistication.

When tiling your outdoor space, choosing tiles that can withstand the external elements should be of prime concern. The best Outdoor tiles provide long-lasting protection against weather, stains, and surface damage. At the same time, they elevate the visual appeal of outdoor areas like patios, porches, and pools. To ensure safety, particularly in wet conditions, it’s important to choose slip-resistant tiles. With a wide selection of colours, textures, and patterns available, outdoor floor tiles can easily turn exterior spaces into welcoming, design-forward extensions of your home.

A tile calculator is a helpful tool designed for homeowners, builders, and tradespeople to estimate how many tiles are needed for a specific project. Using a tile calculator ensures you purchase the right amount of tiles, reducing the risk of overbuying or running short.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Measure the height and width of your spaces in metres, ensuring you account for grout lines.  
 

2. Input each room dimension into our Tile Calculator and add the name of the space. 
 

3. The square meterage (SQM) will automatically be calculated. 
 

4. Browse through our range of tiles to determine the required quantity. 

Always ensure you double-check your measurements. We recommend rounding up when ordering tiles and adding
 a 10-15% surplus of tiles to account for any cuts, breakages, mistakes, or future repairs. 

Please note that the figures provided by the tile calculator are estimates. Always consult a professional tradesperson before finalising the number of tiles for your project.

Tile grout is another important consideration when choosing the best tiles for your space, with various colour options available. Consider whether you want the grout to contrast with your tiles to create a defined, eye-catching pattern or blend in for a more seamless, understated look. Light-coloured grout can brighten a space and suit minimalist styles, while darker tones offer a bold finish and help conceal stains in high-traffic areas.

Also, keep in mind how lighting and room size can influence the appearance of your tiles once installed. Natural and artificial light can alter the tone and texture of tiles throughout the day, so it's worth purchasing tile samples to see how they look in your space before making a final decision. In smaller bathrooms or kitchens, lighter-toned tiles can help create the illusion of more space, while larger-format tiles can reduce visual clutter. Gloss finishes reflect light beautifully, adding brightness and a sense of openness, whereas matte tiles offer a more subtle, grounded look.

Choosing the best tiles for your space doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start by selecting the correct type of tile to suit your style and needs. Measure your area precisely, use our tile calculator to avoid costly mistakes, and plan your layout carefully to bring your space to life.

For more tile inspiration, read our blogs: 
 

Marble: Everything You Need to Know
 

How to Clean Tile Grout: A Guide

Ceramic vs Porcelain Tile: Which Is Right for You?